" -- if I show up in a cast I'll lose my job. And I need my job to keep going to school."

[kpete]

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Injured the Kid

Talked to a student today during office time to go over some work. In saying "see you next class" I notice the student has an Ace bandage tightly wrapped around the forearm, wrist, and hand. I ask what happened, are you OK, and so forth.

The student explains that while working as a cook in a local chain restaurant, another worker said, boss says we need to move this fryer. In the process the fryer is dropped on the student's arm, causing intense pain. The next day the student goes to the doctor. I don't know the student's insurance situation, but I'd bet in college, working parents covers it.

Anyway, the student tells me, "I had to make the doctor not give me an x-ray, because I can't afford to miss any work -- if I show up in a cast I'll lose my job. And I need my job to keep going to school."

Crap.

I kindly advised the kid to get back to the doctor and get the x-ray as Number One, because an untreated bone break is a Bad Thing. I also remarked that many people who are hurt through no fault of their own at work may be entitled to compensation.

I believe the kid is telling the truth; the kid did the assigned work for my course, and I typically only get lied to for the purposes of excuses for not doing the assigned work.

What a mess. The kid is so terrified about losing a horrible low-paying job that the kid refuses basic medical treatment, risking making a simple injury into a possible lifelong disaster. For a fry cook gig.

This is a kid who comes from the middle class. This is a kid whose kids will not be middle class, because that's not a thing anymore.

Why do I say that?

Because we're fucked if we live in a land where if you're even relatively priviliged enough to be able to go to a doctor at all, you'll refuse treatment because you're scared that an obviously negligent minimum-wage employer will fire you.

I teach at a community college. My students are all terrified. They are not dumb.

(This is a true story; details of course changed to protect student anonymity.)

http://whiskeyfire.typepad.com/whiskey_fire/2013/09/injured-the-kid.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That is horrible.

I don't even know what to say. I hope he's OK.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. If the injury happened at work, a report should have been filed immediately and a worker's comp

claim should have been initiated. The employer should have sent him to a clinic or emergency room for immediate medical treatment. If he loses his job due to an on the job injury, he should contact the NLRB.

[tosh]

3. +1.

I was about to write the same thing.

This should be a Workers' Comp case - all related expenses covered. If he didn't report the accident, he should do so NOW.

[MindPilot]

8. It should be worker's comp without a doubt -- he needs a lawyer.

And if an employee is discouraged from or prevented from filing a work-comp claim, then they should find the nearest legal aid office or at least talk to a lawyer who specializes in workplace injuries. Some attorneys make their entire careers off dumbass mangers who think they are saving their employer money by minimizing workplace injuries.

[phantom power]

4. "because that's not a thing anymore"

[notadmblnd]

5. He got hurt on the job and Workman's Comp isn't covering it?

And since when can one be fired for being injured on the job? Seems to me if the burger joint he works at fires him for being injured on the job, the kid has a decent lawsuit, Maybe enough to pay for his college education.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. yeah, he needs that xray. injury should be covered by workmans comp

[MindPilot]

7. that idea extends way beyond the minimum wage fast food arena

I just came from my company's regular safety meeting and the main topic was reporting what we call "near misses"; you almost got hurt, but didn't or you received a very minor injury that requires no treatment beyond maybe a band-aid.

Even in this high-tech well-compensated environment, where everyone has very good healthcare, and even on-site safety engineers and medical personnel, people are afraid they will get into trouble if they report anything.

One person said they felt their job required safety shoes, but were reluctant to ask their supervisor, concerned that they would be branded a troublemaker or a whiner.

At least where I work that culture is starting to change as of today.

[bklyncowgirl]

9. In the public sector we supervisors would get in trouble if we didn't report.

The last thing they wanted was some employee showing up with an unreported on the job injury--and a lawyer.

[MindPilot]

10. Exactly.

Or the first person almost falls and doesn't report the incident; because the hazard was not corrected, the second person does fall and gets hurt.

[markpkessinger]

11. What a horror!

I don't know what I can even say about this. Simply, absolutely awful story.

[seveneyes]

12. Workers Compensation

Never had a problem using it. It works. If the employer was not current with their workers comp, then it is the employers problem.